Iodine ch.1: Return
I don't own South Park.
Stepping on driveway of his childhood house Eric Cartman felt a tiny sting of nostalgia. Not that he missed himself from those times. Now he's aware of how much of an ass he was then. He was hurting people without thinking and often it was hurting him back. Still, those were good times.
Lifting bags he unconsciously put down he made his way to door. It was damn cold. Philadelphia was much warmer in summer. Sighing heavily he rung doorbell. He was bit nervous seeing another car on driveway next to his mothers car.
"Yes?" Liane opened door and after seeing who smiled at her from door step she just stood there without word.
"Hi mom." Eric greeted his mother. Liane just burst in tears and hugged him tightly.
"Welcome home, popkins." Liane said trough tears. "Let me look at you." she took step back. "You've changes." she said wiping tears flowing down her cheeks.
In front of her stood handsome young man, who almost hadn't resembled that fat, self-centred teenager from five years ago. This Eric Cartman was not fat by any means. Some could say he was a bit too thin but it was just charm of baggy leather jacket he wore. This Eric Cartman was indeed handsome young man with no visible flaws. Tanned, athletic with light brown hair he inherited from his mother and bangs slightly falling on his brown eyes. Not to mention his perfect smile. Liane was sure her son was popular.
"Well first get in. I'm sure you're tired." Liane said reaching to help him with his bags. Eric just picked both bags up and walked in. In living room he faced surprise. On couch sipping calmly tea was Sheila Broflovski.
"Good morning." Eric nicely greeted her. And then he noticed Kyle sitting next to his mother. "Mrs. Broflovski, Kyle." he said smiling lightly.
"Eric Cartman?" Sheila asked eyeing man. It wasn't pleasant look. She still disliked him just as she used to if not more for some reason.
"It would be me." Cartman answered. "It's been some time since I was around, nice to see some things hadn't changed." he added.
"Popkins is back." Liane announced walking in with wide smile, obviously happy that her baby came back. "I haven't changed anything in your room." She said petting her sons head.
"Thanks mom. I'll just take my bags there..." Eric started.
"Kyle, help him. I'm sure Eric is tired after his trip." Sheila ordered her son her son.
"Journey was quite nice" Eric commented "Actually I rode whole way from Philadelphia with my friend and his fiancé. They were headed to Cheyenne, visiting her family. Always good to have someone to talk to." He continued but not refusing help. No matter how enjoyable trip was he was slightly tired. And arguing with Sheila was pointless
"Would you like some tea, popkins?" Liane asked.
"It would be nice." Eric said.
"How much sugar would you like?"
"None." Eric responded immediately shocking everyone. "Friend of mine was studying medicine on dieting focus and she sort of helped me with diet. I rarely use sugar or eat fat food now." he explained and rushed upstairs with one bag, Kyle following with second.
In his room Cartman really felt at home. Nothing changed there since he left. Everything was on its place. All photos, medals, rewards for various science fairs during his last high school year. "It's kind of melancholic." Kyle noted. "All those memories." he smiled looking at all rewards Cartman had.
"I think it does." Eric mumbled taking off his jacket. Now Kyle could see how think former local fat ass looked now. Kyle was sure Eric was just a bit fatter from him and it was worrisome. It wasn't Cartman he knew. He got no idea how to interact with him. "What is?" Cartman asked noticing others stare.
"Nothing. You've changed a lot." Kyle said laughing nervously. This whole situation was really awkward.
"Not so fat now, huh?" Eric said sarcastically.
"Not only this." Kyle said. "I guess many things changed trough this five years you were gone." ginger continued.
"Five years is a lot of time." Eric noted sitting on his old bed. His room really was the same as then. Same posters, same photos. It was kinda creepy.
"Where you were this whole time?" Kyle asked trying to sound as casual as he could.
"Pennsylvania." Cartman whispered."I went to university there." he added.
"Which if I can ask." Kyle continued. In reality he just wanted conversation to keep up.
"Can I tell it by tea? I'd like my mom to know too, you know."
"She doesn't know?" Kyle was shocked. He thought that Eric told at least his mom about it.
"Is that a problem?" Eric asked. He got enough of this talk. He really didn't want to talk about this, not now at least.
"She's your mother, Cartman. You could at lest told her." Kyle said slightly rising his voice.
"So we're there again" Cartman muttered. "I didn't want to worry her, got it? She got enough problems without worrying about mine, Kahl." he added. Each word he spoke closer to whispering. "Just leave me alone for a moment okay. I have to find something in my bag." Eric said.
"Coward." Kyle muttered turning away.
"How childish of you Kahl. You know nothing, Kahl. I have my reasons to keep it away from her." Eric said. Now Kyle was seriously lost. Cartman could see it even if other wasn't looking at him.
"I thought you changed. But you didn't. You're still the same self-centred bastard you were. You're just not fat anymore." Without another word ginger left room.
Cartman hadn't even opened his bags. He just sat there. He was mad at himself. He thought that this five years will heal this weird obsession, but it didn't work. It was still there, that little stingy feeling that made him want to piss Kyle off was still in him. In reality nothing changed, just like Kyle said.
Sighing heavily he went downstairs where tea was already waiting for him. But not only. In middle of coffee table stood plate of his moms famous chocolate cookies. Sight made him flinch. He was starting to regret coming down. He should have stayed in his room to unpack.
"You okay popkins?" Liane asked.
"Ye-yes. I just... nothing." he said trying his best to sound natural.
"You sure you look pale." Liane asked. She was visibly worried.
"It's nothing. Just this whole travel is slightly getting into me. I'm just tired." he said sipping his tea. Bitterness was slowly getting him to his senses. He just got to not look at cookies.
"So Eric where were you those years?" Sheila asked sipping her tea. Kyle was just looking at him suspiciously.
"Pennsylvania." Eric said simply putting his cup down."I went to university there." he added. At least he can try to impress Sheila.
"Oh really? Which one?" Kyle repeated his question from earlier. Liane was just smiling at her baby boy happy to see him again. If they noticed how thin he was, they keep it to themselves.
"University of Pennsylvania. Business major" he said.
"That's really impressive." Sheila noted. "Must've been hard for you." she added.
"I barely got any free time except studying and my part time job." Eric confessed laughing dryly at end. "But I'm happy. I made really good friends. The ones who I got to Denver with. Niko and I plan opening business in Denver." Eric added.
"My little boy grew up so much." Liane said smiling.
Eric smiled at her. "I'm still me mom. I just rethought few things. That's all."
"It's still impressive. But tuition and other fees got to be really high..." Sheila noted.
"Scholarship was enough to cover those. With my top scores it is." Eric explained. "Accommodation was another issue." he added yawning.
"You must be really tired. And I guess it's time for us to go anyway, right Kyle?" Sheila noted. Kyle just nodded and they left after goodbye from Liane.
"Are you really okay popkins?" she asked her son.
"I am mom, really." Eric said.
"You haven't touched cookies. You always loved them." Liane noted.
"It's just... It's just..." Eric said slowly. He didn't want her to worry about him.
"You can tell me everything sweetie." she assured him.
"It's glucophobia. I can't stand sugar. I even got diabetes from constant low level of sugar in my blood." He explained quickly.
"But why, Eric?"
"I... can we leave it? I don't like talking about it." Eric asked. "Just for another day." he added.
"I guess we can." Liane said smiling. She was far too nice. "Mom has to go to work anyway. I'm working in this restaurant that got build two years ago. They were looking for cook and you were always telling me how good my cooking is so I thought I may go for an interview there and I got in."
"It's great mom." Cartman was truly happy. He didn't like her old profession. "I'll just unpack and probably sleep for rest of the day." he added heading upstairs. "I love you mom." he added.
"I love you too popkins." Liane said smiling.
Hope you liked it. See you next time when Eric will unpack his stuff and more dark secrets will be revealed.